What is Synodality, and what are we to make of the "Synodal Way" and "The Synod on Synodality?"

[Cade_One]

@Literalman

One participant wanted the parish to be more welcoming (no specifics were given that I recall)

That is a loaded term. That could mean anything from implementing greeters at the entrances to watering down the Faith so much that it becomes no different than the non-denominational Church down the street.

Another was disappointed that everybody in the parish looked like him, to which someone replied, “I don’t look like you”

Again, what does this mean? When I visit my brother in the small-hick-town where he lives, everyone in that Church looks like they are related (Amish-looking) and it creeps me out a bit if I’m being honest. But, that has more to do with demographics than it does with anything that the Church is doing or not doing. A lot of these members of this Church simply are related in some way or another. Plus, when a lot of Catholics migrated to the United State, they settled in certain areas.

But, I suspect that that individuals who said that is a political social justice warrior and what they meant by the comment was more virtue-signaling than anything.

(An aside: another Catholic parish in Alexandria was mostly black, because it was in a neighborhood where blacks had historically been allowed to live; I had been to that church and felt welcome, and nobody seemed to care what color I was.)

Right. That’s what I was saying about demographics.

At our own parish listening session I said that some Catholics don’t seem to realize that they should not be going to homosexual weddings.

And how was that received? Did you get any pushback?

I also said I was grateful to our bishop, Michael Burbidge, for praying with us outside abortion clinics and for attending an Encourage meeting.

That’s great!

Bishop Burbidge also had listening sessions with victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Was that something that was done in public or in private? It seems to me that it would be more meaningful in private, but maybe not?

I tried to find the diocesan summary of listening sessions online; I’m sure I have it at home. I’ll look after I get back from this trip.

Can we call it something other than a listening session? It sounds so effeminate. Which may be why men do not want to participate in these things. Oh wait, they do, it is called the “Synodal way”

Meow!

That was good Thank you for that

[Literalman]

I am sure that the bishop’s listening sessions with victims of clergy sexual abuse have been private.

To me “listening session” was not a bad name. I think that our priests maybe led a prayer and then let people talk. One of the parish staff took notes. I went not only to say what was on my mind but also to listen to what others had to say. Also, as a volunteer hospital chaplain, a lot of what I did was listening.

Yes, the other comments I mentioned sounded shallow, but I am sure there were others with more substance. Aside from the person saying, “I don’t look like you,” I don’t recall anyone disputing anyone else’s comments. Nobody was rude, as far as I remember. I imagine that any rudeness would have been cut off, but people were free to talk in cliches, and I think that even they were there because they cared.